Assurance Wireless, a brand of Sprint Nextel, has expanded into Pennsylvania, offering free cell phones to low-income residents. This now puts Assurance Wireless into 21 states and the District of Columbia, advancing quickly against the entrenched Safelink Wireless, a brand of Tracfone.

Eligible customers in Pennsylvania receive a free phone, and 250 free minutes of voice service per month. Phones come with standard features such as voice mail, and customers can pay to add text messaging or additional voice minutes.

Assurance Wireless is funded by the federal government’s Universal Service Fund’s “Lifeline Assistance” program, and was created to help needy Americans find jobs, stay in touch with relatives, and save money.

Pennsylvanians receiving assistance from one of the following programs may qualify for a free phone from the government:

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Medicaid, Food Stamps/SNAP

General Assistance

Free school lunch program

Someone may also qualify by having household income less than 135 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $14,702 for a single person and $30,173 for a family of four.

I am on social security disability, food stamps and my income is 799.00 monthly rent is 725.00. I am on list. waiting fo a bilateral lung transplant, at end stage COPD. I must have phone so Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania can contact me ASAP a when a lung comes a available! Please help

I need a phone ASAP I have a very sick person that I take great care of I had to leave my full time job to care for this person can someone please help me my family walked away from me I’m not doing this to gain any kind of money I just would love some help from anyone please email me at
******@icloud.com It would me the world to me n this poor person nobody has given us an help as much as a dime please I’m begging for the help of this poor person her family just walked away from her . Thank you so much for anything that you may do to help god bless u all thanks so much. Brian. Chambers Northeast PHILA 19135

This type of “program” is exactly why the Federal Government is running up trillions of dollars of debt annually. Another example of waste and chock full of FRAUD opportunities. Charities should pay for this, not my tax dollars.

Your an ass wipe, do you know that!!!! Before you put all the blame on Obama know how the government works!!! For something to pass you must take a vote on it, his name is present on paper but there is a lot of people behind that signature!!! As far as charities go, as soon as you donate 10,000 dollars or more a month I will be with you 100 percent!!!! Your going to need that amount at minimum, there are millions or even billions of families using this service to stay in contact with their own families and jobs, But you wouldn’t notice that because your such a Obama Hater!!!!! Lord, I hope God bless you with some common since cause at least the government is trying to help the United States instead of in other countrie’s business. I’m done, just think before you type!!!!!